Never say never to access for disabled people at the front door

One ‘Old Lady’ is back on trend as far as access for disabled people is concerned: wheelchair users can (finally) get into the Bank of England through the front door.

This is thanks to an ingenious new lift, which combines function with a form that doesn’t detract from the aesthetics of the listed historic building. Rising from within the steps, it is camouflaged by a stone veneer when not in use.

‘As a wheelchair user, I’m often obliged to ‘go round the back’ because there’s no step-free front entrance’

New steps have been added to the Bank of England

Visiting before the lift was installed, I had to ring several ‘assistance bells’, circumnavigate the building and enter via a colossal metal door, which creaked and rumbled as it was hauled open by two security guards.

Once inside, I was escorted through private areas, passing little known treasures, such as the ornate Roman mosaic flooring discovered during the previous renovation works.

As a wheelchair user, I’m often obliged to ‘go round the back’ because there’s no step-free front entrance: behind the scenes at the Bank of England was unusually fascinating but most of the time it is annoying and frustrating.

Who wants to be forced on a detour to a hidden, separate door, which speaks of inequality and segregation?

‘If front entrance access can be achieved at the Bank of England it can be achieved in a lot more places’

If front entrance access can be achieved at the Bank of England – built in in 1734, when most disabled people would have been in the workhouse or infirmary – it can be done in a lot more places.

Some people (you can picture the type) will say ‘ooh, we can’t do that’, sucking air through their teeth and shrugging. ‘It’s listed… it would cost a fortune… it would never fit’.

Search

Blog categories

This website uses cookies to provide you with the best browsing experience.

Find out more or adjust your settings.

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

You can adjust all of your cookie settings by navigating the tabs on the left hand side.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

disable

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.